頏
alight, land, throat, neck
Strokes13
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
Kun'yomi
- のど
Meaning
頏 centers on the throat or neck area, and by extension the action of a bird alighting or landing, which involves lowering the neck.
Most common words using 頏
- 頡頏けっこう
rising and falling (of a bird)
Study
Etymology
頏 combines 亢 (throat, high) with 頁 (head), suggesting the throat or neck area. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component relationship is consistent with the meaning.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 亢 looks like a neck with a prominent throat, and the right side 頁 is a head. Together they show the head and neck, where a bird might lower its throat to land.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, imagine a bird landing on a coat rack: coat -> コウ, and it alights by bending its neck.